The fiestas of Sant Antoni and Sant Sebastià open the festive calendar in Xàbia

Friday 13th January 2023
Mike Smith

No sooner has the Christmas period ended than Xàbia’s festive calendar kicks in with two major fiestas this month: the celebrations of San Antonio Abad and those of Sant Sebastià, the patron saint of the town.

The councillor responsible for Fiestas, Kika Mata, met with the organizing committees of both fiestas to present details of the respective of events, the first of which kicks off this weekend with the traditional festivities marking the fiesta of San Antonio Abad, activities which have been prepared as always by El Tiraset Equestion Activities Centre.

San Antonio Abad – The Patron Saint of Animals

The programme begins tomorrow Saturday 14th January at midday when the members of CAE El Tiraset will carry out the traditional transfer of the pine tree from the Plaza de la Constitución to Calle San Antonio where, at 8.00pm on the same day, the 23rd burning of the San Antonio Pine will take place, accompanied by music and during which those attending will be able to enjoy some snacks and mistela.

On Sunday 15th January, the members of CAE El Tiraset will enjoy snacks together at their headquarters in Calle San Antonio before gathering together to carry out a parade of horses and carts, starting at 10.00am, that will pass through the town and travel down to the port before returning back to the town to the Plaza de la Constitución where there will be the blessing of animals at around 1.00pm.

Penya La Burrera also celebrates the fiesta of San Antonio Abad, organising the annual fun fair for all the family as well as the blessing of the animals on the port promenade on Tuesday 17th January, the feast day of San Antonio. On that special day, there will be a simple parade through the port zone and then a mass at 12 noon before a short procession with the image of the saint to the promenade alongside the Platja de la Grava where the parish priest will bless all the animals. The Penya will also carry out special parade on the morning of Saturday 14th to mark the arrival of the fiesta.

The annual San Antonio funfair in Avenida de Palmela opens tonight Friday 13th January and will be offering fun for all the family until Sunday 5th February. There will be two special dates: Friday 20th January (hot chocolate for all) and Friday 27th January (Children’s Day with reduced prices).

Related Link: Fiesta SAN ANTONIO ABAD

Sant Sebastià – The Patron Saint of Xàbia

After the festivities of San Antonio Abad comes those honouring Sant Sebastià, the patron saint of Xàbia. The religious aspect of the fiesta is organised by the Commission and the Mayorales 2023 which will be concentrated on Friday 20th January, the saint’s feast day. After a traditional wake-up parade – the despertà – the Mayorales will be distributing coca maria and mistela to the neighbours during the morning and then, in the early evening, they will be visiting the two niches dedicated to the patron saint – one in Carrer Mayor and the other in Carrer Sant Sebastià behind the post office – and then celebrating a special mass at 8.00pm.

The main feature of the festivities will be the return of the bulls and heifers to the streets of the historic centre, specifically in the Plaça de l’Esglèsia and down the steps into Plaça del Baix, which will be organised by ACT Xàbia. There will be several runs on Friday 20th January, Saturday 21st January and Sunday 22nd January, the final day also seeing the running of the ‘carretones’ – the bull head carts – for the little ones.

The festivities will be complemented by children’s storytelling at 10.30am on Saturday 21st January in the Sala Polivalent in the municipal complex at Portal del Clot as well as a mobile disco in Plaça del Baix on Saturday night.

The festive programme will close with the Sant Sebastià Patró de Xàbia Cycling Trophy on Sunday 29th January, which forms part of the cycling season of La Marina.

Related Link: Fiesta SAN SEBASTIÁN

Related Link: Fiesta Programme 2023